Ditching-machine



(Nb Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.,

M. J. AUSTIN.

DITOHING MACHINE.

No. 283,948. Patented Aug. 28, 1883.

Invenlv 7".- 771/. Attorne yi M, 6 J W 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

M. J. AUSTIN.

DITGHING MACHINE. No. 283,948. Patented Aug. 28, 1883.

STATES PATENT Trice.

DITCHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,948, dated August 28, 1883.

Application filed December 2, 1882. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVIATTHEW J. AUsrIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Danville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Ditching-lVIachines and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and. operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side View of my device. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the excavating-belt. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view on line a: m of Fig. 1, the excavating-wheel being removed.

This invention relates to excavating machines for ditching purposes; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the carrying-frame of the machine, which is supported on suitable riding-wheels, U, which are secured to the frame A in front and in rear of the excavating-wheel K, and is constructed with parallel bars I3 and lower parallel bars, 0, to which the segmental guides D are rigidly secured.

F G represent an inner frame turning upon a pivotal center,- E, its forward end being connected by the segmental bars D, which slide up and down within the segmental guides D as the excavating-wheel K is raised and lowcred.

Near the pivot E is seated, in bearings in the frame F, a driving wheel or drum, L, which is turned by gearing from the main shaft of the attached traction-engine or other portable engine or horse-power, by which the machine is drawn forward slowly, while the driving-drum L, carrying the excavating-belt P around the excavating-wheel K, is driven with greater speed; or said driving-drum may be operated by a chain or belt engaging a pulley on the shaft of the engine or driving-power.

P indicates the excavating chain or belt, consisting of side links, a, forming in part the sides of the buckets c, said links beingconshaft w.

has its bearings in the sliding bars D, or, if IOO nected by a hinge-rod and plates 0, suitably fitted together or curved to form the fronts and bottoms of the buckets. The side links, a, are concave on their inner edges, being curved to,

correspond with the surface of the excavating-wheel K, around which the bucket-chain passes, extending also over the drivingdrum L. When in operation, the bucketchain passes under the excavating-wheel and moves with and around the latter upward, and then.

the excavating-wheel the buckets take the earth and carry it up on the surface of the wheel until they pass from its top over a guide or chute, R, on which the earth is deposited, and by which it is guided to the transverse discharging-belt S, which runs over the rollers T, which are pivoted in bearings on the frame F. The belt S carries the earth to one side of the machine and discharges it, so that it falls on the side of the ditch or path of excavation.

It being understood that the frame A, 850., are supported on proper wheels, I provide for adjusting the depth of excavation at will by means of a threaded rod, 2, secured to the radial arms G, which are rigidly attached to the sliding segmental bars Dof the frame F G, the toothed head of said rod engaging a similar head upon a bolt, w, secured to the frame A; hence as either of the bolts is turned in one direction the other bolt is turned in the opposite direction and the relative position of the frames A and. F G D is changed.

The rods 10 can be turned by means of a hand gear-wheel (not shown) meshing with a bevel-gear wheel (not shown) on the lower end of the rod '10.

The excavating-wheel may be raised and lowered by means of a rope, g, which is secured to a cross-piece, G, fastened to the segmental sliding bars D, and thence passes over :a pulley, its opposite end being secured to the crank- The shaft of the excavating-wheel 1preferred, in plates depending from said ars.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In an excavating-machine substantially such as herein described, the combination of the frame A with wheel K, attached to and moving with the pivoted frame F G D, drum L, and bolts 2 w, having intermeshed toothed I heads, as set forth.

2. The frame A and inner pivoted frame, F G D, segmental bars D, wheel K, drum L, and

bucket-chain P, the chute R, lateral discharg ring-belt S, and adjusting means, all combined and arranged to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

MATTHEWV JONES AUSTIN.

W'itnesses: V

AOHILLES MARTIN, CHARLES V. GUY. 

